Harkness Brook Conservation Area is a 26-acre stretch of tall, thin-trunked forest off Harkness Road, threaded by a mostly flat section of the Robert Frost Trail with small brooks and a few tiny waterfalls.
What to expect
Trails
The Robert Frost Trail's Harkness Brook section is open to horses and mountain bikes, with the precaution that they stay off until the trails are dry again…
Dogs
Dogs must be leashed at all times on Amherst Conservation Lands; the only off-leash exceptions are Lower Mill River and Amethyst Brook, daily between dawn and 10am, and off-leash dogs must be under strict voice control at all times
Managed by
Town of Amherst Conservation Commission
413-259-3045 · WebsiteCommon questions
No, it's an easy, mostly flat walk with a few small hills, roughly 4 miles round trip if you go out and back on the Robert Frost Trail section.
Is there an entry fee at Harkness Brook Conservation Area?
No, entry is free.
Can I bring my dog to Harkness Brook Conservation Area?
Dogs must be leashed at all times on Amherst Conservation Lands; the only off-leash exceptions are Lower Mill River and Amethyst Brook, daily between dawn and 10am, and off-leash dogs must be under strict voice control at all times
What rules should I know at Harkness Brook Conservation Area?
Hunting is closed here (not among the six Amherst conservation areas where hunting is permitted).